Fast-growing willow shrub named &#39;otisco&#39;

ABSTRACT

A distinct female cultivar of  Salix viminalis×S. miyabeana  named ‘Otisco’, characterized by rapid stem growth producing greater than 42% more woody biomass than one of its parents (‘SX64’) and 33% more biomass than a current production cultivar (‘SV1’). ‘Otisco’ produced greater than 2.5-fold more stem biomass than two other current production cultivars, ‘SX67’ and ‘SX61’. ‘Otisco’ can be planted from dormant stem cuttings, produces multiple stems after coppice, and the stem biomass can be harvested when the plant is dormant. In the spring following harvest, the plant will re-sprout very vigorously, producing new stems that can be harvested after two to four years of growth. This harvest cycle can be repeated several times. The stem biomass can be chipped and burned as a source of renewable energy, generating heat and/or electricity. ‘Otisco’ displays a low incidence of rust disease and is not damaged by potato leafhoppers.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to the following plant patent applications,all of which are subject to assignment to the Research Foundation of theState University of New York, and each of which is being filed on evendate herewith: “Fast-Growing Shrub Willow” Named ‘Fish Creek’,application Ser. No. 11/244,988, further identified by Attorney docketnumber 1279-001; “Fast-Growing Shrub Willow” Named ‘Canastota’,application Ser. No. 11/244,986, further identified by Attorney docketnumber 1279-002; “Fast-Growing Shrub Willow” Named ‘Millbrook’,application Ser. No.11/244,636, further identified by Attorney docketnumber 1279-003; “Fast-Growing Shrub Willow” Named ‘Oneida’, applicationSer. No. 11/244,975, further identified by Attorney docket number1279-004; “Fast-Growing Shrub Willow” Named ‘Owasco’, application Ser.No. 11/244,842, further identified by Attorney docket number 1279-006;and “Fast-Growing Shrub Willow” Named ‘Tully Champion’, application Ser.No. 11/244,635, further identified by Attorney docket number 1279-007.The variety of fast-growing shrub willow named ‘Otisco’ was produced inthe willow breeding program at the State University of New York Collegeof Environmental Science and Forestry, as were other varieties,including: ‘Fish Creek’, ‘Canastota’, ‘Millbrook’, ‘Oneida’, ‘Owasco’,and ‘Tully Champion’.

STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY-SPONSOREDRESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

The invention described herein was reduced to practice during thefunding period of Contract 4000003235 (SUNY Research Foundation Award011275) awarded by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, managed by UT-Batellefor the United States Department of Energy under contractDE-AC05-00OR22725, and of agreement number 6267 (SUNY ResearchFoundation Award 011536) awarded by the New York State Energy Researchand Development Authority.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention is a new and distinct cultivar known by the varietal name‘Otisco’ resulting from the novel hybridization of Salix viminalis withSalix miyabeana. The new variety was produced through controlled willowbreeding conducted by the inventors at the State University of New YorkCollege of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, N.Y. Theobjective of the breeding program is to produce new willow cultivarsthat generate high biomass yields on a variety of sites, are resistantto diseases and pests, and possess agronomic traits suitable formechanical planting, harvesting, and post-harvest processing. Shrubwillow is being developed as an agricultural crop plant that will begrown and harvested as a sustainable, renewable source of energy. Once afield planting of shrub willows is established, the woody stems can beharvested every three years, and new shoots will re-sprout the followingseason. Repeated harvesting every two to four years can be sustained forat least 15 years.

2. Description of Relevant Prior Art Including Information DisclosedUnder 37 CFR 1.97-1.99

This new variety of Salix viminalis×Salix miyabeana was the seedlingprogeny of the controlled pollination of the female clone S. viminalis‘SV2’ by the male clone S. miyabeana ‘SX64’ performed in February 1999in Syracuse, N.Y. The plant has been propagated repeatedly by stemcuttings and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristicsthrough successive propagations and field trials. More specifically, theplant has been asexually reproduced by collecting dormant stems duringthe winter months from a plant growing in Syracuse, N.Y.; cutting theminto either 5″ or 10″ pieces (cuttings); then planting those cuttings inthe field in Tully, N.Y. in the spring or in potting mix in thegreenhouse, then transplanting the rooted cuttings to the field inTully, N.Y. Both parents were originally transferred from Toronto,Ontario, Canada to Syracuse, N.Y. and were vegetatively propagated fromstem cuttings. The female parent (S. viminalis ‘SV2’) was transferred in1990, while the male parent (Salix miyabeana ‘SX64’) was transferred in1994. The female parent (Salix viminalis ‘SV2’) has leaves that arenarrowly lanceolate and with acute apex. They are pubescent underneathwith raised veins and margins are entire. Mature leaves of variety‘Otisco’ are lanceolate with acuminate apex, upper and lower surfacesare glabrous and margins are serrulate. The growth of the parent plantswas characterized in nursery plantings in Tully, N.Y. The male cloneSalix miyabeana ‘SX64’ displayed rapid stem growth and low incidence ofrust disease, so was chosen to serve as a parent in a cross with S.viminalis ‘SV2’, which suffered from susceptibility to the potatoleafhopper (Empoasca fabae). The seedlings produced by this cross(identification #99201) were first established in a greenhouse, and thenwere transplanted to Syracuse, N.Y. This particular individual(identification #99201-007) was selected from the family due to itsexceptional stem height growth.

The new cultivar has been grown in Syracuse, N.Y. and Tully, N.Y., whichhave a normal yearly average daily temperature of 47° F., normal dailymaximum temperature in July of 82° F., normal daily minimum temperaturein January of 14° F., and average precipitation of 40 inches. The newcultivar grows from a rooted cutting to a fully mature plant ready forharvest in approximately three years.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Salix viminalis×S. miyabeana cultivar ‘Otisco’ has not been observedunder all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environments such as temperature, lightintensity and length of illumination, without, however, any variation ingenotype. The new and distinct cultivar presents the following traitsthat have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘Otisco’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘Otisco’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Rapid growth rate, producing greater than 42% more woody        biomass than one of its parents (Salix miyabeana ‘SX64’), 33%        more biomass than one current production cultivar (Salix        dasyclados ‘SV1’), and more than 2.5-fold more biomass that two        other production cultivars (Salix miyabeana ‘SX67’ and Salix        sachalinensis ‘SX61’) when grown in the same field for the same        length of time (two growing seasons after coppice) in Tully,        N.Y.    -   2. Resistance to potato leafhopper, which causes severe stunting        of growth, curling of the leaves, and overall decline in vigor        (all characteristic of hopper burn) on the female parent, S.        viminalis ‘SV2’.    -   3. Low incidence of rust disease assessed in experimental trials        in Syracuse, N.Y. in 2000.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color photographs show the features of the claimedcultivar in a manner as true as is reasonably possible. Theillustrations include:

FIG. 1.1 illustrates two-year-old portion of stem collected whiledormant;

FIG. 1.2 illustrates one-year-old portion of stem collected whiledormant;

FIG. 1.3 illustrates a vegetative bud in dormancy;

FIG. 1.4 illustrates a floral bud in dormancy;

FIG. 1.5 illustrates new shoot growth from a stem cutting rooted insoil:sand in a greenhouse;

FIG. 1.6 illustrates upper leaf surface;

FIG. 1.7 illustrates lower leaf surface;

FIG. 1.8 illustrates mature catkin; and

FIG. 1.9 illustrates pistil and densely pubescent floral bract.

FIG. 2.1 illustrates biomass yield two years after coppice for theclaimed cultivar as compared to other shrub willows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth characteristics of the newplant. The following observations and measurements describe plants grownby asexual reproduction in Syracuse, N.Y. or Tully, N.Y. underconditions as described hereinabove. Color references are made using TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (hereinafter the R.H.S. ColourChart) of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, England, exceptwhere general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description of the plant: The following detailed    description of the ‘Otisco’ variety is based on observations from 10    inch cuttings grown in a greenhouse in Syracuse, N.Y. Cuttings were    grown in 7 inch tubes in a (1:1) ProMix®/sand (v/v) substrate under    natural light from December 2004 to March 2005. Plants were    irrigated with automatic misting for 6 minutes every 2 hours five    times each day.-   Latin name: Salix viminalis×S. miyabeana-   Varietal denomination: ‘Otisco’-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—S. viminalis ‘SV2’.        -   Male or pollen parent.—S. miyabeana ‘SX64’.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Stem cutting.        -   Time to rooting.—Approximately 10 days in water at 21° C.-   Precocity: Subprecocious — Catkins mature as leaves begin to break    bud.-   Plant description: The color of one-year-old stem cuttings observed    when dormant are grey orange (RHS 167B), while two to three-year-old    stems are yellow-green (RHS 153B) to cracking pale green (RHS 195B)    bark. Vegetative buds are red-orange (RHS 179A), obtuse, linear,    pubescent, and typically 3.5-4 mm in length. Lenticels are red,    large, wart-like, and numerous. The leaves are simple and alternate    with pinnate venation. The upper surface of field-grown leaves in    early October is glabrous and glossy with distinct pinnate venation.    The lower surface is glabrous and slightly glaucous. Stipules are    lanceolate, serrulate, slightly curved, and typically 4 mm in    length. Immature leaves are pubescent. Mature leaves are lanceolate,    acuminate apex, acute base, typically 8.5-9.6 cm in length, 1.1-1.8    cm in width, serrulate margin, adaxial (upper) surface green (RHS    144A), abaxial (lower) surface pale green (RHS 143D), and stem light    pale green (RHS 145B) at 6 weeks of growth. Typical petioles on    mature leaves grown under field conditions in early October are    yellow-green (#N144D) and are 1.0-2.0 mm in diameter. The petiole    depicted FIGS. 1.6 and 1.7 from a greenhouse-grown plant is green    (#138D) and 1 mm in diameter. The typical diameter of two-year old    stems at a height of 1 m is 1.3 cm. The bark color of field-grown    stems determined in early October after two growing seasons is    greyed-green (#194B). The surface is textured with thin longitudinal    furrows and raised reddish lenticels. The average plant height of a    mature plant after three seasons of growth is 5-6 m with a typical    spread at the crown of 1.0-1.5 m when grown in the typical planting    spacing of 0.6×0.7 m.-   Flowering description: Dormant floral buds are elongated, ovoid,    acute, typically 9 mm in length, appressed, and red-orange (RHS    171A). Peduncle of catkin is typically 3.5 mm in length and bears 4    leafy bracts. Catkins are erect, typically 2.8 mm cm in length,    narrowly cylindrical, and densely flowered. Flowers have a long,    narrow, densely hairy, and sessile ovary, with a long style and 2    stigmas one larger than the other. Floral bract is densely pubescent    and has a pink acute apex.-   Field growth characteristics: Determined through surveys of plants    growing at the LaFayette Road Experiment Station in Syracuse, N.Y.-   Disease resistance: Displays a low incidence of rust disease.-   Temperature tolerance: Stems typically do not suffer frost damage at    temperatures as low as 10° F. and may suffer only minor tip dieback    at lower temperatures.

Seed production: ‘Otisco’ produces only female flowers, so viable seedswill only be produced after pollination by a compatible male variety.This has not yet been observed in field trials.

-   Biomass yield: Mean dry stem biomass yield produced through two    growing seasons after coppice in each of eight four-plant plots    (‘Otisco’, 14.78 oven dry tons ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) measured in a yield trial    growing at the Tully Genetics Field Station in Tully, N.Y. in    February 2005 was 42% greater than the mean stem biomass yield of    one of its parents (‘SX64’, 10.35 oven dry tons ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) and was    33% greater than a current production cultivar (‘SV1’, 11.04 oven    dry tons ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) growing in the same trial (FIG. 2.1). ‘Otisco’    produced greater than 2.5-fold more stem biomass than two other    current production cultivars (‘SX67’, 5.52 oven dry tons ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹;    ‘SX61’, 4.83 oven dry tons ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) growing in the same trial    (FIG. 2.1).

1. A new and distinct variety of a Salix viminalis×S. miyabeana plantsubstantially as illustrated and described herein.